Box or basket



July"27, 1937. w. o. BROWN 2,087,944

BOX OR BASKET I Filed Dec. 19,. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet? l0 INVENTOR.

E E. Wife) 0. Bran/r7;

ATTORNEY.

Patented duly .27, 1937 2,087,944 BOX on BASKET Walter 0. Brown,Detroit, Mich.

Application December 19, 1934, Serial No. 758,214

7 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes or baskets and the object of theinvention is to provide a box or basket made of light material, such asfiber or plywood and arranged so that the boxes will nest together forcompactness and provided with means whereby the boxes may be stackedwhen felled without applying pressure to the contents of the boxes orbaskets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a box or basket of thecharacter described provided with a ball or stacking iron at each endadapted to be turned into notches provided in the upper side edges oredge of the box and providing cross bars for supporting the. bottom ofanother box on opposite sides of the transverse center plane whenpositioned thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box having sloping sideand end walls, an open top, and a ball or stacking iron pivotallymounted at each end and turnable to a position free of the open top topermit a second box to be nested thereon. This arrangement provides forcompactness in storage, each box being provided with means to prevent itfrom binding or sticking in the box in which it is nested.

Another object of the invention is to provide a U-shaped bail pivotallymounted at each end of the box and turnable into metal lined notchesprovided in the box edges, the cross portions of the balls when sopositioned allowing another box to be positioned thereon and the rim ofthe box extending above the bails to prevent displacement of the upperbox in relation to the lower box.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction by which these objects are attained is shown in theaccompanying. drawings in which---- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of abox or basket embodying my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a box positioned on the bailsor stacking irons of another box.

Fig. 3 is an illustration showing two of the boxes nested together. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the box showing the stacking ironin position for use.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of bracket ar-- ranged to receivethestacking iron or bail.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 1- of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view showing an alternative means to prevent the boxes fromsticking together.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on line 9-9 .Of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the device comprises a rectangular base orframe I to the upper surface of which a bottom 2 is secured. This bottom2 may be provided with apertures 3 for ventilation and may be ofplywood, fiber or other suitable material. The sides 4 may also be ofthe same material and these sides are nailed to the base I at the bottomby nails or'rivets 5, shown in Fig. 1. A rectangular wood frame 6 ispreferably provided about the upper edge of the box or basket and thesides 4 may be nailed or riveted to this upper frame. The outside facesof the corners of the box are protected by means of sheet metal cornerpieces 1 which extend from the bottom to the top and the top frame isprotected at the corners by means of sheet metal brackets 8, shown moreparticularly in Fig. 1. Each bracket 8 is preferably provided with aformed boss 9 struck outwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 9. Thisportion 9 is provided with an aperture and the end I!) of a ball orstacking iron II is inserted through this aperture and headed over toprovide a head I! to prevent its withdrawal. The brackets 8 arepositioned with the portions 9 on the long sides of the boxes so thatthe bails Il may be pivotally mounted in the portions 9 and may beturned over the ends of the box, as shown at the top of Fig. 3. Theupper edges of the box are provided with notches to receive the crossbars of the balls II and in order to prevent wear, a bracket 13 isinserted in each notch and is secured in place by the nails H extendinginto the top frame 6 of the box.

By this arrangement, the balls or stacking irons l i may be turned toposition the cross bars in the notches as shown in Fig. 1, to support asimilar box on opposite sides of its transverse center plane as shown inFig. 2, to allow the boxes to be stacked with material therein. As theballs ll extend'below the upper edges of the respective box, another boxpositioned on the bails is retained within the upper edge of the lowerbox to prevent lateral displacement.

While the boxes are being filled, the bails II are turned out of theway, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, and as the boxes are filledthe bails are then turned to position shown in Fig. 2 toallow the boxesto be stacked above each other on the balls. When the boxes are emptied,the balls are turned over the ends of the boxes,

' of this invention, be pivoted to the side walls bets 1 at the fourcorners of each box.

as shown in Fig. 3, and the boxes are nested by positioning one withinthe other as shown In order to prevent'the boxes from sticking when sonested, cross pieces l5 are provided in the ends of the boxes at thebottom, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, and the boxes will rest at theends on these cross pieces to prevent the boxes from being pushed downon each other so tightly as to be difficult to dis-assemble.

An alternative form of notch bracket is. shown in Fig. 6 in which thebracket is provided with a U-shaped portion l6 having horizontal flangesl I extending therefrom and provided with depending flanges [8 which aresecured to the top rim of the box by means of the rivets l9, shown inFigs. 6 and 7. This is a slightly stronger bracket for the bail andstrengthens the top rail of the box at this point and is the preferredform for use with a box having a thin upper edge.

The box or container may have imperforate side and end walls made ofplywood, fiber or other convenient material or may be formed of othercharacter of side walls for various purposes, as for instance wire mesh.Where the material of the side walls is more or less subject to collapseor deformation by stacking of the filled boxes or containers, rails orother charac-' ter of reinforcing elements are provided at the upperperiphery of the box as for instance as indicated at 6 in Fig. 1. Incase rails are utilized, it is preferable to pivot the bails to suchrails although they may, within the spirit and scope or to a bracketapplied thereto. With the U- shaped bail as shown with the legs pivotedto the side walls, the legs, when the iron is folded to the position inFig. 1, lie closely adjacent to and in a plane preferably parallel tothe outer face of the rails or side wall and the legs at the bendbetween the legs and the cross member of the bail or stacking ironprevent bulging of the rail or side wall of a lower boxto a materialextent by the weight of superimposed boxes. Where the side walls are ofsuflicient thickness or strength to permit, the notches may be madedirectly in the edges of the wall members and preferably provided withwear plates as is suggested in Figs. 1 or 6.

While I have shown spacing members l5 particularly in Fig. 3 for spacingthe boxes when nested, it is possible to use an alternative form ofspacing means, as shown in Fig. 8. In this form of the device the outercorner angle iron member 1 is provided with a struck-out lug 24 andthese are struck out from these outer mem- Thus, when the boxes arenested, the lugs 24 rest upon the upper edges of the box immediatelytherebeneath and keep the boxes from binding together when nested.

By the construction of the box and stacking irons described, the variousobjects and features of this invention are attained and it is believedevident from the foregoing that the device is very simple and emcient inoperation, will allow the boxes to be stacked or nested by turning thebails to stacking or nesting position and provides a device whichaccomplishes the objects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is- 1. A rectangular box of open top and tapered formhaving the upper opposite side edges provided with a pair of notchesspaced from each end thereof, the notches in one side edge beingrespectively aligned with the notches in the other side, a pair ofstacking irons each'pivotally connected to the said opposite side edgesand turnable into the pair of aligned notches toward that end of the boxto which the iron is pivoted and also'being turnable to a position clearof the top, said notches being of a depth in respect to the size incross section of the iron lying therein to permit the bottom of a secondbox resting thereon to occupy a position within and below the plane ofthe open top.

2. A rectangular box having inwardly inclined side and end walls and anopen top, the length and width of the top being greater than the lengthand width of the bottom, the upper edges of the opposite side walls eachhaving a pair of notches therein opening through the upper edge andequi-distantly spaced from a transverse center plane of the box, a pairof stacking irons U shaped in form each having the ends of its legspivotally associated with the respective opposite side walls at pointsrespectively adjacent the opposite ends of the box, said irons eachbeing turnable to position the cross member of the iron in theoppositely disposed pair of notches in the upper side rails and alsoturnable to a position clear of the open top, the pivot points of eachiron being positioned in a plane between the respective pair ofoppositely disposed notches in the side walls and respective end wall ofthe box, the notches being of such depth in relation to the cross memberlying therein that the bottom of a superimposed box is positioned withinand below the plane of the open top of the lower box.

3. A box or crate of rectangular form having inwardly inclined side andendwalls providing a bottom less in width and length than the open top,a pair of stacking irons U shaped in form, the two legs of both ironsbeing pivotally associated with the respective opposite side walls nearthe top and respectively adjacent the opposite end walls, the ironsbeing movable to position the portion connecting the legs transverselyof the open top and respectively on the same side of the transversecenter plane of the box as its pivotal connection, the upper edges ofthe side walls having notches to permit the said connecting portion ofthe irons to lie in a position below the plane of the upper edges of theside walls and also support the bottom of a second box within and belowsaid plane of the upper edges of the side walls, said irons beingmovable to position to permit a second box to be inserted therein.

4. In a nesting box having an open top, inwardly inclined side and endwalls and a bottom less in widthand length than the top, a framesurrounding the upper edge of the said sides and ends, a pair ofstacking irons "pivotally supported. by the side members of the upperframe adjacent the corners and 'shiftable to a position to engage thebottom of a similar box to support the same or to position clear of theopen top to permit nesting of a similar box therein, said side frameshaving notches in the upper edges to receive a portion of the irons toposition the bottom of a superimposed box below the plane of the topwhereby the superimposed box is held from material lateral displacementby the upper edges of the side and end walls.

5. In a nesting box having an open top, and 75 inclined sideand endwalls and a bottom less in length and width than the top, a pair of Ushaped stacking irons pivotally supported by opposite side walls eachadjacent the respective end walls of the box, said irons each beingturnable to a position with the cross member lying transversely of thebox on the same side of the center plane as its pivot point or turnableoverthe end of the box to permit a second box to be nested therein, theupper edges of the side walls being notched to receive the cross membersof the respective irons whereby they may occupy a position below theplane of the open top to support the bottom of a second box within andbelow the plane of the said open top, and wear plates in the saidnotches. l

6. A rectangular box having the upper and opposite edges of the sideWalls provided with a pair of notches spaced from each end thereof, thenotches in one side edge being respectively aligned with the notches inthe other side edge, a U shaped stacking iron having the ends of thelegs pivotally connected to the said opposite side walls near the topand lying closely adjacent the exterior face thereof, said irons eachbeing turnable over the top of the box to lie in a pair of alignednotches on the same side of the transverse center plane of the box asits pivot point and being turnable to a position clear of the top.

7. A box or crate of rectangular form having tapered side and end wallsto permit nesting of the boxes, the upper opposite side rails of the boxeach having a pair of notches spaced from each end thereof, the notchesof one side wall being aligned with notches in the other side, a pair ofstacking irons each comprising aro'd of U form, the legs and theconnecting member of each iron occupying substar-tLally the same plane,the ends of the legs of each iron being pivoted to the respectiveopposite side walls of the box adjacent an end wall and the connectingmember of each iron being turnable into the pair of aligned notchesadjacent the same end Wall of the box, the arrangement further providingfor the turning of the stacking irons to a position clear of the opentop.

WALTER 0. BROWN.

